News Archive

Department of Theatre and Dance

UW Theatre Students Claim Top Honors at Regional Festival

March
2, 2006 -- University of Wyoming Department of Theatre and Dance
faculty and students received top honors at last week’s Region VII
Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) and Northwest
Drama Conference in Pasco, Wash.

UW actors swept the KCACTF Region VII Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship
competition, picking up their ninth regional win. Senior Stephanie
Lovell, Enfield, Conn., is one of two Region VII Irene Ryan winners who
will go on to compete at the national festival in April at the John F.
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

"The University of Wyoming has an amazing theatre program, it is
absolutely astonishing," says Lovell, who will be among 16 students
nationwide competing at the national festival. "Our professors have been
trained so well themselves, and we (students) are exposed to so many
opportunities. My acting coach, Leigh Selting, has been a huge
inspiration."

She credits her scene partner, Cheyenne Christian of Mitchell, Neb., for
her contributions toward the award. Christian will partner with Lovell
at the national festival.

Other Irene Ryan awards went to sophomore Andrew Franks-Ongoy, Helena,
Mont., who was selected as second alternate and won the Mark Twain
Comedy Award; junior Claudine Mboligikpelani Nako, Laramie, who won the
Musical Theatre Award; and junior Katie Herbert, Granby, Colo., who won
the Best Partner Award.

Nako also won a full-tuition scholarship to attend the 2006 TVI Summer
Professional Acting Program in London, New York, or Los Angeles. At the
TVI Actors Studio, Nako will train with industry professionals including
producers, directors, talent agents, casting directors, and faculty
members from prominent theatre schools across the country.

The production of “Frequency 98.6" -- a new play by senior Dana Formby
of Cheyenne, with original staging by Selting -- was placed on the
"short list" to be invited to the national festival at the Kennedy
Center.

Senior Jesse Sundell, of Casper, was runner-up for the Region VII
10-Minute Play Competition; second bachelor’s candidate Leann Torske, of
Casper, won third place in the KCACTF Critic’s Forum; while junior
Russell Gilbert, Roscoe, Ill., picked up a Meritorious Achievement in
Lighting Design award from the KCACTF.

Also, UW Theatre and Dance Department Head Rebecca Hilliker was awarded
the prestigious Kennedy Center Gold Medallion for her years of service
and leadership to Region VII.

Photo

Best Actress -- University of Wyoming senior Stephanie Lovell of
Enfield, Conn., left, rehearses a scene with Cheyenne Christian of
Mitchell, Neb. prior to last fall’s performance of “Frequency 98.6.”
Lovell won the Irene Ryan Acting Award during the Region VII Kennedy
Center/American College Theatre Festival (and Northwest Drama
Conference) in Pasco, Wash. She and Christian will go on to compete at
the national festival in April at the John F. Kennedy Center for the
Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. (UW Photo)